Actually the reference doesn't totally work in hindsight because she was never asked for her password, but it seems as though it was encrypted and hence they just destroyed her laptop instead of asking her for the pw. If it had biometrics they might have just forced her to open it. So actually, the example might work after all.
If you are unwilling to allow border guards to inspect something you are attempting to bring into their country, then you should be prepared for them to tell you to leave it outside at best or punish you for attempted smuggling at worst. I am skeptical of the story you linked as it's entirely from the perspective of the smuggler, but I don't see any reason to believe anything wrong happened there.
Nanna isn't suggesting smuggling contraband. As a journalist, they have a responsibility to maintain the privacy of their sources. They shouldn't be letting customs officials go through their emails and identifying people they have contact with, or photos or whatever.
No matter what is on the device, border security shouldn't be able to access it without probable cause for a search, and knowing what they are looking for.
If the legitimate border guards of a country are unable to inspect something to their satisfaction, they are well within their rights to force you to leave it outside their country, or to keep you yourself out.
Sometimes they will make decisions that are bad either for the people of the country or the greater global community, but smuggling is not the right way to protest.
